Surgery support system and surgery support method

ABSTRACT

A first controller synthesizes image output of a CCU and a cursor created based on trigger information from a second controller, following location information. The synthesized image is displayed on a first monitor, so an endoscope image and a cursor image which moves synchronously with the cursor image on a display device can be simultaneously viewed at the surgery room side on a single monitor, and accordingly, the problem of the working space inside the surgery room becoming crowded due to providing multiple observation monitors in the surgery room does not occur.

This application claims benefit of Japanese Application No. 2001-111749filed on Apr. 10, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated by thisreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a surgery support system and surgerysupport method, and particularly relates to a surgery support system andsurgery support method for supporting surgery.

2. Description of the Related Art

Normally, surgery is performed on a patient by a surgeon in a surgeryroom. However, a system is being conceived for cases such as, forexample, a surgeon in the surgery room needing to perform surgeryregarding which he/she has little experience, wherein the surgeon isconnected by a communication line with a surgeon skilled in theparticular surgery at a remote location (hereafter referred to as“remote support surgeon”), so that the surgeon in the surgery room canperform the surgery under the remote support of the remote supportsurgeon, such as instructions on parts to be removed, so appropriatesurgery can be performed on the patient in the surgery room.

An example of a remote surgery support system for supporting surgery insuch a remote matter is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 2000-245738.

The art disclosed therein requires that a first monitor means fordisplaying output images of an endoscope camera, and the second monitormeans for displaying images transferred from the remote location, beinstalled in the surgery room.

Now, when endoscopic surgery is being performed, the surgery room isfilled with much equipment. Accordingly, newly installing such equipmentin the surgery room could worsen the surgery environment. On the otherhand, there has been need for the surgeon to observe the endoscopeimages and images from the remote location on separate monitors. Withendoscopic surgery, the direction of the hands of the surgeon and thelocation where the observation monitor is installed may not be in thesame direction, which is not a suitable arrangement for surgery.Moreover, with remote surgery support, a further monitor is installednext to the main observation monitor, so the surgeon has been forced toobserve monitors in an even more unnatural manner.

The present invention has been made in light of the above, andaccordingly, it is an object thereof to provide a surgery support systemand surgery support method wherein endoscope observation images andinstruction information from a remote location can be integrated anddisplayed on a single monitor without inviting deterioration in theworking environment of the surgery room when performing remote surgerysupport to instruct surgery from a remote location side via acommunication line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the surgery support system according to the presentinvention for performing communication of information regarding surgeryand supporting surgery, comprises: an imaging device for taking imagesof a treatment region of a patient, and outputting picture signals; afirst display device for displaying images of the treatment region,based on picture signals output from the imaging device; a firsttransmitting circuit for transmitting picture signals output from theimaging device to a communication line; a first receiving circuit forreceiving the picture signals from the first transmitting circuit viathe communication line; a second display device for displaying images ofthe treatment region, based on picture signals received with the firstreceiving circuit; a first pointer superimposing circuit forsuperimposing a first pointer for instructing location on the seconddisplay device display the treatment region; an operating unit formoving the first pointer displayed on the second display device by thefirst pointer superimposing circuit; a second transmitting circuit fortransmitting location information of the first pointer to thecommunication line; a second receiving circuit for receiving locationinformation of the first pointer from the second transmitting circuitvia the communication line; and a second pointer superimposing circuitfor superimposing a second pointer on the first display device, based onlocation information received with the second receiving circuit.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the inventionwill become more clearly understood from the following descriptionreferring to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating the configuration of theremote surgery support system according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating the configuration of asecond controller at a remote support device side shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a first screen display example fordescribing a cursor displayed on the display screen of the displaydevice shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a second screen display example fordescribing a cursor displayed on the display screen of the displaydevice shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a first screen display example fordescribing a cursor displayed on the first monitor shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a third screen display example fordescribing a cursor displayed on the display screen of the displaydevice shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a second screen display example fordescribing a cursor displayed on the first monitor shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a fourth screen display example fordescribing a cursor displayed on the display screen of the displaydevice shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a first screen display example fordescribing a cursor displayed on the display screen of a display deviceaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second screen display example fordescribing a cursor displayed on the display screen of the displaydevice shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a first screen display example fordescribing a cursor displayed on the display screen of the first monitoraccording to the cursor displayed on the display screen of the displaydevice shown in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a second screen display example fordescribing a cursor displayed on the display screen of the first monitoraccording to the cursor displayed on the display screen of the displaydevice shown in FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following is a description of embodiments of the present invention,with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 through 8 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention,wherein FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating the configurationof the remote surgery support system according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustratingthe configuration of a second controller at a remote support device sideshown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a first screen displayexample for describing a cursor displayed on the display screen of thedisplay device shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating asecond screen display example for describing a cursor displayed on thedisplay screen of the display device shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is adiagram illustrating a first screen display example for describing acursor displayed on the first monitor shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is adiagram illustrating a third screen display example for describing acursor displayed on the display screen of the display device shown inFIG. 1, FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a second screen display examplefor describing a cursor displayed on the first monitor shown in FIG. 1,and FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a fourth screen display example fordescribing a cursor displayed on the display screen of the displaydevice shown in FIG. 1.

The present embodiment is a remote surgery support system wherein thesurgery room and the remote control room at a remote location areconnected via a communication line, with a surgeon in the surgery roomreceiving support information from the remote control room side toperform surgery.

As shown in FIG. 1, the remote surgery support system 1 according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention is configured of a surgerydevice unit 2, and a remote support device unit 3 which is in the remotelocation from this surgery device unit 2, connected with a network line4. The surgery device unit 2 and the remote support device unit 3 aredisposed in the surgery room 5 and remote control room (remote supportdevice room) 6, respectively.

The surgery device unit 2 installed in the surgery room 5 comprises anendoscope imaging device 10 for observing within the body cavities of apatient, and surgery device (surgical equipment) 20 for performing asurgery for treating the patient, under observation of the endoscopeimage device 10.

More specifically, a surgical equipment main unit 8 for performingtreatment surgery, and an optical endoscope 9 for observing the state ofthe surgery and so forth with this surgical equipment main unit 8, areinserted into the abdomen, for example, of the patient 7. The surgicalequipment main unit 8 is a device such as an electric scalpel or thelike for performing incisions or coagulation or like operations, thesurgical equipment main unit 8 being connected with an electric powersource unit 11 for supplying driving electric power source to thesurgical equipment main unit 8 and having functions wherein outputsetting values are variable according to the incisions or coagulationmodes, via a cord or the like, the surgical equipment main unit 8 andthe electric power source unit (control unit, depending on the treatmentequipment) 11 making up the surgical equipment 20.

Also, the endoscope 9 is a rigid endoscope having a hard insertionportion 12, for example, with a television camera 15 with a built-incharge-coupled device (hereafter referred to as a “CCD”) 14, forexample, mounted as an imaging device at an eyepiece 13 provided at therear end side of the insertion portion 12, thereby forming means fortaking endoscope images.

A light guide cable 16 of the endoscope 9 is connected to a light sourcedevice 17, transferring illumination light of an unshown lamp within thelight source device 17 to a light guide within the light guide cable 16and a light guide within the endoscope 9, so as to cast the illuminationlight that has been transferred from a light guide tip window fixed atan illumination window at the tip side of the insertion portion 12,thereby illuminating the subject side, which is the internal organs inthe body cavity, or the like.

An unshown object lens is attached to the observation window adjacent tothe illumination window, for image-formation of an optical image. Thisoptical image is transferred backwards by a relay lens system, forexample, serving as an optical image transferring means disposed withinthe insertion portion 12, and can be enlarged and observed via anunshown ocular lens at the eyepiece 13.

The transferred optical image is subjected to image formation at the CCD14, via an image-forming lens 18 of a television camera 15 which isdetachably mounted to the eyepiece 13. This CCD 14 is connected with acamera control unit (hereafter referred to as “CCU”) 21 via a signalcable 19, and the signals subjected to photo-electric conversion at theCCD 14 are then subjected to signal processing, thereby making up anendoscope image-taking device 20 which generates standard picturesignals (video signals).

The picture signals from the CCU 14 are output to a first controller 24,and an endoscope image, which is the internal organs in the body cavityforming the treatment portion of the patient, and the tip side of thesurgical equipment main unit 8 for operating on the internal organs inthe body cavity, taken with the CCD 14, are displayed on a first monitor22 via the first controller 24.

Also, the CCU 21 and electric power source unit 11 are also connected tothe first controller 24 which performs control and the like thereof.This controller 24 is also connected with a touch panel 25 for examplefor performing instruction input of control, and the magnetic cardreader 26 for example for performing input and the like of patient data.

For example, the surgeon can perform control such as changing the toneby the CCU 21 of the control 24 by operating the touch panel 25, and canalso perform output control and the like for the surgical equipment mainunit 8. In the event that the surgical equipment main unit 8 is anelector scalpel, for example, the surgeon can perform setting control ofthat output level thereof so as to perform incisions, coagulation, etc.,with the electric scalpel. Also, in the event that the treatmentequipment 20 is a pneumoperitoneum device, the surgeon can performcontrol for changing and setting the pressure values and so forth.

Also, patient data recorded in a magnetic card can be read by themagnetic card reader 26, the patient data input to the controller 24,with the controller 24 superimposing the patient data on the endoscopeimage from the CCU 21.

Also this CCU 21 and the controller 24 provided in the surgery room 5are connected with the first signal transmitting device 27. Endoscopeimages output from the CCU 21 are displayed on the first monitor 22 viathe controller 24. This arrangement also allows picture signals of theendoscope images to be converted into signals transmittable by abroadband network line 4, such as an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)line by a signal transmitting device 27, and transmitted to a secondsignal transmitting device 28 at the remote control room 6 side via thenetwork line 4.

Also, the signals transmitted from the signal transmitting device 28 atthe remote control room 6 side to the signal transmitting device 27 viathe network line 4 are converted into picture signals, output to thefirst monitor 22 connected via the controller 24 connected to the signaltransmitting device 27, and can display the image information and thelike from the signal transmitting device 28 side on the first monitor 22in a superimposed manner.

Also, the control signals or patient data or the like from thecontroller 24 are converted into signals transmittable over the networkline 4 by the signal transmitting device 27, and can be transmitted tothe signal transmitting device 28 at the remote control room 6 side viathe network line 4.

Also, an unshown keyboard, mouse, etc., are also connected to thecontroller 24, so that cursor location information and the like can betransmitted from the mouse to the remote surgeon side at the signaltransmitting device 28 side via the controller 24.

On the other hand, a second monitor 31 is connected to the signaltransmitting device 28 at the remote support device 3 within the remotecontrol room 6, and endoscope images sent from the CCU 21, for example,at the surgery room 5 side, are displayed on the second monitor 31.

Also, this signal transmitting device 28 is connected with a secondcontroller 32, and a display device 33 serving as a third monitor isconnected to the controller 32. Also, input means such as a touch panel,or keyboard 34, and the like, for example, are connected to thiscontroller 32. Further connected is a pointing device, such as a mouse35.

The controller 32 captures still images of the endoscope images beingsent from the CCU 21 at the surgery room 5 side via the signaltransmitting devices 27 and 28, and also receives input of patientinformation and the like transmitted from the first controller 24 viathe signal transmitting devices 27 and 28. The controller 32 displaysthe still images and the patient information or the like on the displayunit 33 by superimposing or the like, and also makes display input withthe input means such as the keyboard 34 or mouse 35 or the like forproviding support information such as instruction information or thelike at the time of the surgery, for the surgeon at the surgery room 5side, for example. For example, display input is made by markinglocations for excision, the location of arteries to watch out for at thetime of the excision, and so forth. The controller 32 makes an overlydisplay of a cursor image at a position based on this display input onthe display device 33, i.e. superimposes the cursor image on theendoscope image.

Also, information relating to the marked image displayed in an overlaidmanner on the display device 33, information such as the location of thecursor, the orientation of the cursor, the size of the cursor, the colorof the cursor, etc., is transmitted to the first controller 24 withinthe surgery room 5 via the signal transmitting devices 28 and 27. Thefirst controller 24 superimposes the cursor image at the desiredlocation on the image output of the CCU 21, according to the informationrelating to the marked image, and displays this on the first monitor 22.

Thus, the surgeon in the surgery room 5 can carry out appropriatesurgery by performing the surgery while observing the endoscope imageupon which the support information from the remote support surgeon hasbeen superimposed, on the first monitor 22.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating the configuration of thecontroller 32. This controller 32 is made up of the a Central ProcessingUnit (hereafter referred to as “CPU”) 40 for performing controllingoperations, a hard disk drive (hereafter referred to as “HDD”) 41 forstoring operation programs for the CPU 40, images, etc., memory 42 usedfor temporary storage of images, work area, etc., an input/outputinterface (hereafter referred to as “I/O”) 43 for performing input andoutput via the signal transmitting device 28, video capture control unit44 for performing capturing operations and superimposed displayoperations of picture signals, and a keyboard interface (hereafterreferred to as keyboard I/F) 45 connected with a keyboard 34, forexample, and these components are mutually connected via a bus.

Communication of control signals or the like from the second signaltransmitting device 28 is performed via the I/O 43. Operating programsfor the controller 32 are stored in the HDD 41. In the event of makingsettings for controlling the operations of the surgical equipment 20from the touch panel 25 or the like at the surgery room 5 side, forexample, via the first controller 24, the control contents thereof arestored in memory 42 or the like from the I/O 43 within the controller 32via the signal transmitting devices 27 and 28. Also, patient informationis also stored in memory 42 or the like from the I/O 43 within thecontroller 32 in the same way.

Also, the video capture control unit 44 is connected with a signaltransmitting device 28 and has an A/D converter 46 for performing A/Dconversion of input video signals, and a D/A converter 47 for performingD/A conversion of video signals and outputting.

The A/D converter 46 and a D/A converter 47 are connected with anoverlay control unit 48 for performing overlay control, and this overlycontrol unit 48 has video memory therein and is connected to a controlcircuit 49 for performing control of the overlay display and exchangeand the like of data. Also, this control circuit 49 is connected to thebus.

With the present embodiment, image communication by the signaltransmitting device 28 is performed via the A/D converter 46 and D/Aconverter 47 making up the video capture control unit 44. Picturesignals input from the A/D converter 46 are subjected to imageconversion following control of the control circuit 49 at the overlaycontrol unit 48.

The output of the overlay control unit 48 is transmitted to the signaltransmitting device 28 via the D/A converter 47. Communication betweenthis signal transmitting device 28 and the controller 32 is controlledby the CPU 40, following programs stored in the HDD 41.

Also, images captured via the video capture control unit 44 can bestored in a HDD 41. Also, reduced images of images stored in the HDD 41,such as thumbnail images for example, selected from the keyboard 34, maybe output to the video capture control unit 44 side and superimposed onpicture signals transmitted from the first signal transmitting device 27side by the CPU 40, via the overlay control unit 48.

Also, picture signals from the D/A converter 47 are output to thedisplay device 33 as well, and a display such as shown in FIG. 3 forexample may be made to on this display device 33.

A display area 33 a of the display device 33 is made up of an imagedisplay area 50, thumbnail display area 51, surgical equipment statedisplay area 52, patient information display area 53, and commentdisplay area 54.

The thumbnail display area 51 is an area for displaying multiple imagesrelating to items selected by a operating an image selection button (notshown) displayed in a tool bar in the display area 33 a, displaying animage window, and selecting the desired item (patient named, name oftechnique, etc.).

Picture signals from the CCU 21 making up the endoscope imaging meansand images selected from the thumbnail display area 51 are displayed inthe image display area 50.

Displayed in the thumbnail display area 51 are reduced screens andmoving images of image data stored in the second controller 32, andpicture images corresponding to the endoscope image from the CCU 21 inreduced still images (thumbnail images).

The surgical equipment state display area 52 displays the state of thesurgical equipment main unit 8 transmitted from the first controller 24,the CCU 21, and so forth.

Patient information from the first controller 24 is displayed in thepatient information display area 53.

Note that ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) or TCP/IP can be conceived asa means for transmitting the images, audio, and signals over the networkline 4.

The operation of the present embodiment having such a configuration willbe described. As shown in FIG. 1, the surgery device unit 2 and theremote support device unit 3 are connected by a network line 4 such asan ATM, and the power sources are turned on. Also, patient informationsuch as the name of the patient 7 is input to the first controller 24from the magnetic card reader 26.

The endoscope 9 is connected to the light source device 17 via the lightguide cable 16 so as to supply the illumination light, the televisioncamera 15 is mounted to the eyepiece 13 of the endoscope 9 and thesignal cable 19 of the television camera 15 is connected to the CCU 21,so that endoscope images taken by the CCD 14 via the first controller 24are displayed on the first monitor 22.

First, the pneumoperitoneum device is inserted into the abdomen of thepatient 7 via an unshown trocar, and pneumoperitoneum is performed inthe abdomen. Then, the insertion portion 12 of the endoscope 9 isinserted via the trocar, so that the part to be treated within theabdomen is displayed on the first monitor 22.

Also, the surgical equipment main unit 8 such as the electorate scalpelor the like with which that abdomen of the patient 7 is to be operatedon is inserted via the trocar.

In the event of changing the tone of the endoscope image displayed onthe first monitor 22, the surgeon can operate the touch panel 25 to sendcontrol signals from the first controller 24 to the CCU 21, therebychanging the tone.

The picture signals of the endoscope image output from the CCU 21 to thefirst monitor 22 are transmitted from the first signal transmittingdevice 27 to the second signal transmitting device 28 side via the line4, and displayed on the second monitor 31.

The connections are arranged so that the picture signals can be input tothe second controller 32. In the event that the endoscope imagedisplayed on the second monitor 31 is a suitable image displaying thepart for excision in the surgery for example, the remote support surgeonmakes capture instructions from the keyboard 34 to capture the endoscopeimage (still image) via the video capture control unit 44 of thecontroller 32. The captured endoscope image is displayed on the imagedisplay area 50 of the display device 33 connected to this controller32, as shown in FIG. 3.

Also, patient information from the magnetic card reader 26 is input tothe controller 32 from the first controller 24 via the signaltransmitting devices 27 and 28, from the I/O 43 thereof, and stored inmemory 42 or the like, for example, within this controller 32. Thepatient information is always displayed in a patient information displayarea 53 on the display device 33, as shown in FIG. 3.

Also, the remote support surgeon makes an overlay display of theendoscope images and patient information and the like sent from thesurgery room 5 side on the display device 33, sets the location forexcision in the event that treatment area is to be removed with thesurgical equipment main unit 8 in a still image state, and marks on thestill image by making input from the mouse 35 or keyboard 34 or thelike, or marks arteries regarding which care should be taken near thepart to be excised with a different color from the part to be excised,and so forth, thereby displaying support information.

Also, the output values set for excision using an electric scalpel forexample, and the output values set for coagulation thereof, are set bythe surgeon in the surgery room 5 from the touch panel 25. This causesthe control contents including that output settings for the surgeryequipment 20 to be transmitted from the first controller 24 to the I/O43 of the second controller 32, and stored in memory 42 or the like, forexample, and control information which is setting information for thesurgery equipment 20 is displayed in the surgery equipment state displayarea 52, as shown in FIG. 3.

Also, in FIG. 3, setting information for the pneumoperitoneum device isalso displayed in the surgery equipment state display area 52. That isto say, control information for multiple pieces of surgical equipmentcan be displayed.

Also, upon the surgeon in the surgery room 5 making settings forchanging or the like of the output values of the electric scalpel fromthe touch panel 25, the changed contents are sent to the I/O 43 of thesecond controller 32, and updated contents are displayed in the surgeryequipment state display area 52. That is, the control contents of thesurgical equipment 20, i.e., the settings contents are displayed on thedisplay device 33 in an almost real-time manner, so the state of thesurgical equipment 20 can be confirmed by the remote support surgeon inan almost real-time manner.

Also, in the event that the surgeon in the surgery room 5 inputscomments or the like from the keyboard or the like, the comments aredisplayed on the comment display area 54 as shown in FIG. 3.

In the event that a reply from the remote support surgeon is desired forthis comment, the remote support surgeon attaches a reply and transmitsthis to the surgery room 5 side, so the surgeon in the surgery room 5can confirm this by making reference or the like to the first monitor22.

Also, the remote support surgeon can record endoscope images captured bythe video capture control unit 44, and the still images thereof arerecorded on the HDD 41 upon making input of instructions for recordingfrom the keyboard 34, for example.

Also, the endoscope images stored in the HDD 41 can be reduced andreduced images selected for display may be displayed in the thumbnaildisplay area 51 shown in FIG. 3.

Also, besides endoscope images, X-ray images or the like of the patient7 may be transmitted to the second controller 32 in the remote controlroom 6 from the first controller 24, so as to make display of reducedimages of the images stored in the HDD 41.

The remote support surgeon can make accurate diagnosis for surgery onthe patient 7 by making reference to these images and the like on thedisplay device 33, and can provide support information to the surgeryroom 5 side for performing surgery following the diagnosis thereof.

The remote support surgeon operates the mouse 35 while observing thedisplay device 33. As shown in FIG. 3, operating the mouse 35 displays acursory image 101 on the display device 33. At this point, the cursorimage 101 is only displayed at the remote location side, and is notdisplayed at the surgery room 5 side.

Operating and unshown first button on the mouse 35 the displays alarge-sized cursory image 102 indicating that a cursor display has beenmade at the surgery room 5 side separate from the cursor image 101, asshown in FIG. 4. At this time, trigger information is transmitted fromthe second controller 32 to the first controller 24. The triggerinformation contains at least location information of the cursor image102, and may include information of the shape and color of thereof, aswell.

The first controller 24 synthesizes the image output from the CCU 21 andthe cursor image created based on the trigger information from thesecond controller 32, according to the aforementioned locationinformation. The synthesized image is displayed on the first monitor 22as shown in FIG. 5, so that at the surgery room 5 side, the endoscopeimages and the cursor image 102 a moving synchronously with the cursorimage 102 on the display device 33 can be simultaneously observed on asingle monitor, so the problem wherein the working space in the surgeryroom is reduced by having multiple observation monitors in the surgeryroom 5 is done away with. That is, the display indicating that thecursor image is displayed on the first monitor 22, is displayed on thedisplay device 33, so the remote support surgeon in the remote surgeryroom 6 can readily know that instructions are being made to the surgeonin the surgery room 5.

That is, the second controller 32 obtains trigger information forconfirming location information from the input means, and transmits thecursor location information at the point that the trigger informationwas obtained to the first control 24, and the first controller 24superimposes the cursor image on the endoscope camera image based on thecursor location information received from the second controller 32.Accordingly, the cursor for making marks on the endoscope image in thesurgery room 5 can be prevented from moving undesirably and blocking thevision of the surgeon.

Also, the surgeon can perform surgery while observing just one monitor,so there is no need to watch over multiple monitors, as withconventional arrangements. Accordingly, the surgeon can concentrate onthe surgery.

According to the present embodiment, the surgeon in the surgery room 5observes a single monitor and performs surgery, and accordingly canperform surgery while receiving surgery support from a remote locationin a natural manner that is no different to normal surgery.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the event that the cursor image 102 moves byoperating the mouse 35 while the cursor image 102 is displayed, cursorlocation information is transmitted to the first controller 24 accordingto changes in the location of the cursor image 102. In the event thatthere is change in the received cursor location information, the firstcontroller 24 updates the cursory image 102 a of the synthesized imageto be output to the first monitor 22 as called for, as shown in FIG. 7.

In the event that the remote support surgeon operates an unshown secondbutton on the mouse 35, the second controller 32 transmits secondtrigger information to the first controller 24. The second triggerinformation contains control signals for deleting the cursor display.

That is, the second controller 32 obtains first trigger information forconfirming the location information from the input means, and transmitsthe first trigger information to the first controller 24. The firstcontroller 24 superimposes the cursor image on the image of theendoscope camera and based on the location information at the time ofreceiving the first trigger information from the second controller 32,and the first controller 24 changes the display location of the cursorimage according to location information each time various locationinformation until receiving the second trigger information for deletingthe cursor image, from the input means, thereby enabling the cursorimage to be displayed at an appropriate location only when needed.

Upon the second trigger information being input to the second controller32, the second controller 32 transmits the second trigger information tothe first controller 24, and also changes the cursor image 102 displayedon the display device 33 to the cursor image 101, as shown in FIG. 8.

Upon receiving the second trigger information, the first controller 24stops synthesizing the cursor image 102 a, and outputs only theendoscope image to the first monitor 22.

Now, with the present embodiment, the difference between the cursorimage 101 and the cursor image 102 has been represented by changing thesize thereof, but the present invention is by no means restricted tothis arrangement, and the difference may be represented by difference incolor or shape, or by the display blinking or the like. Also, the cursorimage 101 may be erased while displaying the cursor image 102.

Also, the optical endoscope 9 is not restricted to an arrangementwherein an optical image is transferred with the relay lens system, andmay use an image guide wherein optical images are sent through a fiberbundle.

Also, though not shown in the figures, the surgeon in the surgery room 5and the remote support surgeon at the remote control room 6 may exchangeaudio signals.

FIGS. 9 through 12 relate to a second embodiment of the presentinvention, wherein FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a first screendisplay example for describing a cursor displayed on the display screenof a display device according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second screen displayexample for describing a cursor displayed on the display screen of thedisplay device shown in FIG. 9, FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating afirst screen display example for describing a cursor displayed on thedisplay screen of the first monitor according to the cursor displayed onthe display screen of the display device shown in FIG. 10, and FIG. 12is a diagram illustrating a second screen display example for describinga cursor displayed on the display screen of the first monitor accordingto the cursor displayed on the display screen of the display deviceshown in FIG. 10.

The second embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment, sodescription will be made regarding only the different points, and thecomponents that are the same will be denoted with the same referencenumerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 9, a cursor 111 is displayed. This is equivalent to the cursor101 in the first embodiment, and a cursor is not displayed at thesurgery room 5 side. Here, upon the surgeon operating an unshown firstbutton on the mouse 35, a cursor 112 is displayed on the second monitor33, as shown in FIG. 10. The cursor 112 is displayed with the colordifferent from that of the cursor 111, so that the remote surgeon canreadily judge whether or not the cursor is displayed at the surgery room5 side.

At this time, as with the first embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 11, theendoscope image and a cursor image 112 a which moves synchronously withthe cursor image 112 on the display device 33 are simultaneouslydisplayed on the first monitor 22, and in the event that there is changein the received cursor location information, the cursor image 102 a ofthe synthesized image to be output to the first monitor 22 is changed atthe first controller, as called upon.

Upon the remote support surgeon operating an unshown second button onthe mouse 35, the second controller 32 transmits second triggerinformation to the first controller 24. The second trigger informationcontains control signals for deleting the cursor display.

Upon the second trigger information being input to the second controller32, the second controller 32 transmits the second trigger information tothe first controller 24, as with a first embodiment, and changes thecursor image 112 to be displayed on the second monitor 33 to the cursorimage 111.

As with the first embodiment, the first controller 24, upon receivingthe second trigger information, quits synthesizing of the cursor image112 a, and only outputs the endoscope image to the first monitor 22.

Further, upon the remote surgeon operating and unshown third button onthe mouse 35, third trigger information containing a new cursor colorinformation is transmitted from the second controller 32 to the firstcontroller 24. That is, by operating the third button on the mouse 35,selection signals for changing the characteristics of the cursor imageis transmitted to the second controller 32. As shown in FIG. 12, thefirst controller 24 changes the color of the cursor image 112 adisplayed on the first monitor 22 according to the color information ofthe cursor contained in the third trigger information.

Further, upon the remote surgeon operating the unshown third button onthe mouse 35, the first controller 24 further changes the color of thecursor image 112 a.

Now, with the present embodiment, the color of the cursor image 112 ahas been changed by operating the unshown third button of a mouse 35,but it is needless to say that the present invention is not restrictedto this arrangement, and the shape or blinking state of the cursor image112 a may be changed.

According to the present embodiment, the remote surgeon can freelychange the characteristics of the cursor image 112 a displayed on thefirst monitor 22 and the second monitor 33, so in that event ofdisplaying the cursor image 112 a over the endoscope image, thecharacteristics of the cursor image 112 a can be easily changed tofacilitate the viewing even in cases wherein the color or shape of theendoscope image and the cursor image 112 a are close and difficult todistinguish.

Also, besides endoscope images for diagnosing the state of the patientby remote surgeon, in the event that X-ray images or the like arenecessary, that image information can also be transferred to the HDD 41within the controller 32 at the remote control room 6 side from thecontroller 24 at the surgery room 5 side.

Note that in the above-described embodiments, arrangements may be madewherein an the remote support surgeon side can also make input forcontrolling the operations of the surgical equipment, such as settingthat output values of the electric scalpel and so forth. That is, with asituation wherein the remote support surgeon can set the values in aneasier and more accurate manner, the remote support surgeon side mayoperate the keyboard 34 or touch panel or the like to transmit controlsignals to the controller 24 at the surgery room 5 side via thecontroller 32, thereby controlling the operations of the surgicalequipment with the control signals thereof.

Also, in the above-described embodiments, this description has been maderegarding an arrangement wherein endoscope images output from the CCU 21are displayed on the first monitor 22, but arrangement may be madewherein the control contents of the treatment equipment and patientinformation also input from the controller 24, and these aresuperimposed and displayed on the endoscope image.

Also, though the above described embodiments use a magnetic card reader26 as input means for patient information, the present invention is notrestricted to this, and may use other information recording media suchas IC cards, optical cards, and so forth.

Also, ultrasonic surgical equipment or other such equipment may besuitably used besides the electrical scalpel or pneumoperitoneum device.

Also, the second controller in the remote control room may be arrangedso as to send location information to the second signal transmittingdevice in the event that there has been no change in the locationinformation input from the input means over a predetermined period oftime. According to this arrangement, situations wherein the cursor formarking the endoscope images in the surgery room undesirably moves andblocks the surgeon's vision, can be prevented.

Further, the first controller may superimpose the cursor image on theendoscope image in the event that there is no change in the locationinformation received via the first signal transmitting device over apredetermined amount of time. According to this arrangement, situationswherein the cursor for marking the endoscope images in the surgery roomundesirably moves and blocks the surgeon's vision, can be prevented.

According to the remote surgery support system relating to theabove-described two embodiments, remote surgery support can befacilitated with a good field of view, without deteriorating the surgeryenvironment.

Also, embodiments wherein the above embodiments and the like arepartially combined, are also encompassed in the scope of the invention.

As described above, the present invention is advantageous in thatendoscope observation images and instruction information from a remotelocation can be integrated and displayed on a single monitor withoutinviting deterioration in the working environment of the surgery room,when performing remote surgery support to instruct surgery from a remotelocation side via a communication line.

Having described the preferred embodiments of the invention referring tothe accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the presentinvention is not limited to those precise embodiments and variouschanges and modifications thereof could be made by one skilled in theart without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

1-14. (Cancelled)
 15. A surgery support method, wherein communication isperformed for information regarding surgery between a surgery room forperforming surgery and a remote surgery support room via a communicationline, with the surgery support room side supporting the surgery;wherein, installed in said surgery room are an imaging device for takingimages of a treatment region of a patient, and outputting picturesignals, and a first display device for displaying images of saidtreatment region, based on picture signals output from said imagingdevice; and wherein, installed in said surgery support room are a seconddisplay device for receiving picture signals from said imaging devicevia said communication line and displaying images of said treatmentregion, based on the received picture signals, a pointer displayprocessing circuit for performing processing for displaying a firstpointer image for instructing location on the image of the treatmentregion displayed on said second display device, and an input deviceperforming input of operating information for moving said first pointerimage displayed by said pointer display processing circuit; and whereinthe display location information of said first pointer image moved bythe operating information input by said input device is transmitted tosaid surgery room, a second pointer image is generated based on thedisplay location information of said first pointer image transmitted tosaid surgery room, and said second pointer image is superimposed on saidpicture signals output from said imaging device.
 16. A surgery supportmethod according to claim 15, wherein said surgery room is provided witha first controller which is connected to said imaging device and saidfirst display device, for generating said second pointer image andsuperimposing on said picture signals output from said imaging device;and wherein said surgery support room is provided with a secondcontroller which receives picture signals from said imaging device viasaid communication line, is connected to said second display device andsaid input device based on the received picture signals; and has saidpointer display processing circuit; and wherein said operatinginformation is transmitted from said second controller to said firstcontroller, via said communication line.
 17. A surgery support methodaccording to claim 15, wherein a display is made on said second displaydevice, indicating that said second pointer image is superimposed on thetreatment region image displayed on said first display device.
 18. Asurgery support method according to claim 15, wherein, in the event thatthe location indicated by said pointer display processing circuit ischanged, said pointer display location information is transmitted fromsaid second controller to said first controller.
 19. A surgery supportmethod, wherein communication is performed for information regardingsurgery between a surgery room and a remote support room at a remotelocation via a communication line, with the remote support room sidesupporting the surgery; wherein an image of the surgery region of thepatient is taken in the surgery room, this image of the surgery regionthat has been taken is transmitted to the remote support room, at theremote support room a movable first pointer image for indicatinglocation is displayed in a superimposed manner on the image of thesurgery region transmitted from the surgery room, this locationinformation of this first pointer is transmitted to the surgery room, atthe surgery room a second pointer image is generated based on thelocation information transmitted from the remote support room, and thissecond pointer is displayed on the image taken of the surgery region ina superimposed manner.